Here are some quotes from the evaluation forms from previous conferences.

Overall, was the conference a positive experience for you?

• ``The conference was the most positive undergraduate experience I have had so far. It was encouraging and enlightening to meet so many other female undergraduates and grad students in this comfortable, interesting atmosphere.''
• ``Yes! I haven't actually had the chance to do research yet, and it was really exciting to see other people talking about what they've done.'' (Note: This same student responded to the question, ``Did the conference increase, decrease or not change your interest in continuing your study of mathematics or statistics in graduate school?'' with ``It increased it; I really want to do research.'')
• ``Yes! It was great to be in a positive, supportive atmosphere.'' (To the second question mentioned above, this student wrote, ``Increased, definitely. It reminded me that there are lots of cool areas of math out there to go into.'')
• ``Extremely -- it was nice not to be one of very few female math majors for once!''
• ``Yes. This is the first `women's' conference that I have attended, and the experience was more beneficial than I expected.''
• ``I enjoyed getting to hear about research that other undergrads are doing in a very supportive setting.''
• ``Yes -- It was really neat to participate in an event with so much enthusiasm, and to be surrounded by other female math majors and professors.''
• ``It was a very positive experience for me. I was able to hear other people talk about their mathematical backgrounds and experiences, and I met many new people.''
• ``Yes, it was a GREAT experience for me. Even though I did not give a presentation, the conference was very informative.''
• ``Yes! This is one of the best experiences of my undergraduate career ...I am definitely more interested in going to graduate school.''
• ``Meeting all these other women who are passionate about mathematics was wonderful!"
• ``I enjoyed the talks by students immensely. The banquet speaker was also great -- I thought the focus on history and women in math was an excellent, inspiring subject. ... I liked the plenary talks -- I would have enjoyed a third session."
• ``I have a lot of grad school anxiety, so it was good to hear what others were going through -- and that I wasn't alone."
• ``I thoroughly enjoyed this weekend. I found it to be very encouraging to see and talk to other women who are serious about mathematics. It was also nice obtaining so much info about grad school, both from panel discussions and from other participants."

List what you consider to be the important benefits of the conference.

• the opportunity to give a presentation in a supportive, virtually all-woman environment
• networking with other women having the same goals and interests
• the encouragement to continue in mathematics
• the opportunity to learn about research in other disciplines of mathematics
• the exposure to the research of prominent female researchers currently in the field
• gaining information about graduate school
• gaining information on REU's and other opportunities
• gaining information on mathematical organizations and associations
• the opportunity to attend talks in a comfortable atmosphere
• the opportunity to feel appreciated as a woman who loves math
• ``reaffirmation that it is acceptable by society and by peers to be a math major''

Some additional quotes:

• ``I wish I'd known about this program two years ago -- I needed the confidence even more back then. Please know I will spread the word about this program to all I know. I NEVER expected to get this much out of just a 3 day event. This has been so wonderful! I am so glad that you all take the time and effort to put on this conference."
• ``I would simply like to thank all who organized the conference -- it has been a truly incredible experience .... I feel much more encouraged, and I think I have learned a great deal of mathematics."
• ``Keep doing this! It has been a pivotal piece to my undergraduate math career and a great forum to learn about other opportunities out there and meet my future female peers in mathematics."
• ``It is so encouraging to meet/have reunions with so many of the women math majors in the U.S. It makes me excited to go back to school and do math. I don't feel like a `math nerd'. I feel like I'm working really hard so I can learn a lot and share/learn math with all my friends.''
• ``It gives females a sense of belonging to a wider community -- I always feel like I am representing my gender, so meeting other people (female) who were as interested as I was in math was really beneficial. Also it gives confidence to students who have never talked before and that gives them a more positive attitude for the future. And it was beneficial towards going to graduate school. I no longer count myself as being unusual in being good at and enjoying mathematics. That is really important.''
• ``(It) made undergraduate research a real option -- I will do an REU.''